News

Namco Yanks Splatterhouse Away from BottleRocket

Kotaku is reporting that developer BottleRocket Entertainment is no longer working on Splatterhouse for Namco. Sources told Kotaku that the game will be completed by the in-house team that developed Afro Samurai.

A publisher spokesperson responded to inquiries by stating that, "We have decided to part ways with BottleRocket Entertainment but we are committed to bringing Splatterhouse to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 later this year."

Sources have also told Kotaku that BottleRocket has ceased operations, giving employees their last paychecks. Other sources claim that the developer will close its doors in three months.

As to the reason for Namco pulling the project, sources claim that BottleRocket was missing deadlines and submitting material that didn't meet Namco's standards.

Gerald: If we're to believe the undisclosed sources, BottleRocket is to blame for their current situation. No matter what field you're in, it's important to meet your deadlines and to provide work that is up to your employer's standards. With all of the news of layoffs and studio closures lately, it's understandable that this sort of move would be made by the publisher.

I expect that Splatterhouse will be delayed for a good long while, so we'll have to wait for an update from Namco before knowing when the game will make it to store shelves. It's a sad end to the tale of the developer behind such games as the innovative The Mark of Kri and Rise of the Kasai.